AFCI Troubleshooting suggestions

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joebell

joebell

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Location
New Hampshire
I installed three AFCI's over the weekend, went back today to find they have been tripping. The first two problems I found right away, the GC's extention cord and a bad existing switch in another room, but I can not find the cause of the third AFCI tripping.

It feeds a circuit w/ 10 recessed down lights. The lights are controled by Lutron Maestro dimmers, two are set up as three ways with the Maestro Remotes. Has anyone had trouble with these dimmers tripping AFCI's or am I barking up the wrong tree. The indicator on the AFCI indicates it is tripping out on arc fault.


Any suggestions?




Joe
 
Take out the dimmer and replace with regular switch to test. If it trips the AFCI then it eliminates the dimmer, then you know you have a problem else where on the circuit.

- JWC
 
It's a Murray and has indicator lights one is Grnd Fault and Arc Fault.


First time installing them I don't know if it is a standard label used for both type of breakers or not but it appears to have two indidcator lights.


Joe
 
joebell said:
It's a Murray and has indicator lights one is Grnd Fault and Arc Fault.


First time installing them I don't know if it is a standard label used for both type of breakers or not but it appears to have two indidcator lights.


Joe
Click to expand...

Wow, I haven't seen one :like it yet. Then again I don't do much Residential. :grin:
 
If it is indicating an arc fault , then I would guess it would have to be a series arc, unless you think there is more than 75 amps flowing in the circuit.

You mentioned 10 lights as the load? What is the total load wattage?
You might try unscrewing some of the lamps and see if it still trips with a lighter load (less than 5 amps)?
 
Joe,

Do you have any anecdotal evidence from the occupants? What was happening or being controlled at that moment the circuit went dead? How frequently does the trip occur? If it is infrequent (subjective, I know) then waiting & living with a few more interruptions may be helpful in detailing the event.
 
I would simply swap breakers with one of the other AFCIs to rule out the breaker itself.. .
 
i try to guess where i think the middle of the circuit is and break the powers --after i have reset the breaker and made sure all the switches on the circuit are off.alot of times if you can flip any switch on the circuit and it trips your problem will most likly be grounded conductor pinched or fell out of wirenut..if circuit trips automatic and will not hold ,i would check breaker or places where grounding conductors could likely come in contact by accident such as switches or recepts....sometimes it takes a little time ---good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i have found 3 differ tamp proof recepts causing afci breaker to trip this year so far,i replace and never had problem again!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Surf more, the breaker he has, has an indicator that tells him it is an arc fault

Combination Type AFCI

MAFCICombo72.jpg
The new Murray Combination AFCIs feature unique LED trip indicators, providing a valuable analysis tool to help electricians pinpoint the type of trip and reduce the time spent debugging the wiring.
More info
 
joebell said:
I installed three AFCI's over the weekend, went back today to find they have been tripping. The first two problems I found right away, the GC's extention cord and a bad existing switch in another room, but I can not find the cause of the third AFCI tripping.

It feeds a circuit w/ 10 recessed down lights. The lights are controled by Lutron Maestro dimmers, two are set up as three ways with the Maestro Remotes. Has anyone had trouble with these dimmers tripping AFCI's or am I barking up the wrong tree. The indicator on the AFCI indicates it is tripping out on arc fault.


Any suggestions?
Joe
Click to expand...
Check for neutral/EGC contact. I've seen the white get pinched in the recess can Jbox cover, and it will trip the AFCI.
 
Did you do the install of the lights?

While I agree with everyone else on the process of elimination, it could still always be as simple as a pinched wire, while simple, it's not as easy to fix as replacing the switch.

John and I must have been typing at the same time, because I actually wrote what he did, but then deleated it.
 
joebell said:
It feeds a circuit w/ 10 recessed down lights.
Any suggestions?
Joe
Click to expand...

Are these cans the Halo H99T or ICT cans? If they are the problem is in the fixtures. The socket extenders when screwed in tight will trip the arc fault. I bet if you take the extenders out and try the bulbs it will work. Try just loosening the extenders.

This has been a major problem for Halo for some time now.
 
dSilanskas said:
I agree alot of times its the breaker itself.
Click to expand...

Funny I've been involved with some sort of electrical/electronic maint for 11 years and only once has it actually been the OCPD. Of course the one time it WAS I didn't bother checking it and it took me hours and hours to get to the point where I realized my mistake....:roll:
 
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